About Séamus

Originally from Northern Ireland, I came to England seventeen years ago. My first proper job was in an opticians and I have never left the industry since (apart from one month at a bespoke shirt makers). I have sixteen years experience of the eyewear industry and have a passion for handmade spectacles and sunglasses with an eye on innovation in design.

Paul Smith Spectacles and Sunglasses in store now!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

In the last few days, I have taken delivery of a new collection for the store, Paul Smith. I began my career by selling Paul Smith in my first ever proper job which was at Angela Campbell Opticians in Manchester over seventeen years ago and I have always had a soft spot for them.

Unlike many “designer glasses” brands, Paul Smith takes a very active interest in the eyewear that bears his name. He personally signs off each design to check that it complies with the ethos and quality of his clothing collection. In fact, when he first decided to launch an eyewear collection, he went straight to the manufacturers of the eyewear he liked to wear himself, Oliver Peoples.

Production responsibility has remained with them till this day and it is a true collaboration, between the companies and not an impersonal licensing deal. They are all hand made, 60% of them in Italy and 40% of them in Japan. I am fully satisfied with the quality and I’m very pleased to add them to my roster of brands here at the store.

Stylistically, the spectacles echo the clothing line of the Paul Smith brand. Classic cuts with a twist. They have an air of the period between 1920 and 1960 when Britain was more reserved and things were built to last. Unlike some of my collections, colour is subdued as they opt for tortoiseshells, horn, black and the occasional flash of colour in a burgundy or a deep purple.

The sunglasses are a much more glamorous affair. They range from fifties “Grace Kelly” styles to seventies cool that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Studio 54.